By Bill Bradley, contributing editor
President Barack Obama will take a closer look at the issues involving concussions when the White House hosts the Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit on Thursday.
The event will include representatives ranging from youth athletes to members of the military. Jeff Miller, the NFL's senior vice president for health and safety, will represent the league.
The NFL has been proactive in dealing with head injuries in the sport, promoting USA Football's Heads Up Football program that educates youth football leagues on proper tackling techniques. The league also has handed out stiffer fines for players who initiate contact with the crown of their helmets, and passed numerous player safety rules during the past few seasons.
Earlier this year the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment -- the advisory board for sporting goods manufacturers in the United States -- passed a new guideline that will require manufacturers to create helmets that limit some concussion-causing forces. The standard is expected to go into effect with next year's helmet models.
According to a White House press release, the summit will discuss the "gaps" in research knowledge on concussions, the lack of data on youth sports head injuries and the "culture of resistance" among athletes that continues to show up in team sports.
"The president believes we can and must do better, and the administration is committed to helping ensure that children continue to be active and play sports safely," the release said. "During this summit, the administration will announce new commitments from both the public and private sectors to raise awareness among young athletes, parents, school administrators, clinicians, coaches and youth sports programs about how to identify, treat and prevent concussions, as well as to conduct additional research in the field of sports-related concussions that will help better address concussions among students."
The Washington Post reported that the idea for the summit arose while Obama was watching the NFL playoffs earlier this year with press secretary Jay Carney, who is the father of youth athletes.
The president made headlines before the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers faced off in Super Bowl XLVII, when he said if he had a son he wouldn't allow him to play football.
"The president approaches the concussions issue as a parent," White House communications director Jennifer Palmieri told The Post.
